Poker game and apparatus for play thereof

Abstract

A poker card game and apparatus for its play are disclosed, particularly adapted for casino play, in which each player in a given game, using only a single dealt hand, plays simultaneously separately against the dealer (the house) and against the other players. Betting for the two lines of play may be separate or linked, and a player can elect to play only against the dealer or to play both games together. The game is played as a form of five-card stud with betting before each deal. At the end of each game a player's status as to whether he/she beat the dealer, beat the other players or both is determined and displayed, and winners are paid accordingly. Conventional dealing may be used, but it is preferred that a biased deal, which enhances the opportunities for players to be dealt reasonably good poker hands, be used.

1 . A method of playing a poker card game which comprises: 
 designating a dealer who is dealt a hand of cards during play of a game but neither bets nor folds;    having said dealer also deal sequential cards as hands to a plurality of players, said players betting prior to at least one sequential deal, said betting by each said player being divided into a house bet placed against the dealer and a pool bet placed against other players;    conducting and completing play of said game according to rules of poker;    at the end of said game separately determining for each player the outcome of the player's hand against the dealer's hand and thereby determining the outcome of the player's house bet; and    for all players completing the game also determining the relative rankings of the hands of said players and thereby determining the distribution of the pool bets accumulated during said game;    whereby through the play of a single dealt hand a player may win a bet against the dealer and also a betting pool against other players participating in said game.    
   
   
       2 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein said accumulated pool is distributed entirely to a player with the highest ranking hand among said players upon completion of said game.  
   
   
       3 . A method as in  claim 2  further where distribution to said player is made only if said player's hand also ranks higher than said dealer's hand.  
   
   
       4 . A method as in  claim 1  further comprising limiting distribution of accumulated pool bets at the end of said game to only being among players whose hands ranked higher than said dealer's hand.  
   
   
       5 . A method as in  claim 4  wherein when no player has a hand upon completion of said game which outranks said dealer's hand, said accumulated pool is retained and incorporated into the players' pool of a next following game.  
   
   
       6 . A method as in  claim 1  further comprising distributing said accumulated pool among a plurality of said players.  
   
   
       7 . A method as in  claim 6  further comprising limiting distribution of accumulated pool bets at the end of said game to only being among players whose hands ranked higher than said dealer's hand.  
   
   
       8 . A method as in  claim 6  further comprising said distribution being done according to a predetermined schedule of shares.  
   
   
       9 . A method as in  claim 8  wherein said shares of said predetermined schedule are determined by relative rankings of players' hands.  
   
   
       10 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein said betting comprises an ante by each player prior to the initial deal and a bet by each remaining player prior to each successive deal.  
   
   
       11 . A method as in  claim 10  wherein said initial deal for said dealer and each player comprises two cards and each successive deal comprises one card.  
   
   
       12 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein each said deal is conducted in a manner biased to decrease the proportions of lower ranking hands which would otherwise result from non-biased dealing of poker hands.  
   
   
       13 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein a player who folds during play of a game forfeits the player's house bet and pool bet.  
   
   
       14 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein a player who declines to place a pool bet initially or in a subsequent round of betting forfeits the player's placed pool bets but continues to play against the dealer.  
   
   
       15 . Apparatus for play of a poker game as defined in  claim 1 , said apparatus comprising: 
 a poker table having positions for a dealer and a plurality of players;    a computer processing unit operating software which establishes and controls the play of said game;    a dealer's monitor incorporated into said table at said dealer's position and comprising a touch screen for communication with said computer and software, said monitor having a screen which is visible to said dealer and all of said players;    players' monitors incorporated in said at each of said players' positions, each said monitor having a screen which is visible to said dealer and all of said players;    means controlled by said dealer's touch screen for dealing a simulated hand of cards to said dealer and each said player and displaying said hand for said dealer and each said player on the respective player's or dealer's monitor screen;    means controlled by said dealer's touch screen for dealing said hands as a sequence of deals of individual cards with intervals therebetween for players to place house bets against the dealer and pool bets against the other players; and    means for comparing the relative rankings of all said hands and displaying on respective monitor screens the final status of each player's hand with respect to said house bet against the dealer and said pool bets against other players.    
   
   
       16 . Apparatus as in  claim 15  further comprising indicia appearing on said table adjacent to each player's position for indicating where said player is to place each house bet against the dealer and each pool bet against the other players.  
   
   
       17 . Apparatus as in  claim 16  further comprising indicia appearing on said table for indication of a location for accumulation of players' pool bets constituting a pot.  
   
   
       18 . Apparatus as in  claim 17  wherein said location is adjacent to said dealer's position.  
   
   
       19 . Apparatus as in  claim 15  further comprising, for a player who folds during the course of a game being played, means for displaying indicia identifying said folder player on said player's monitor screen and also on the dealer's monitor screen.